Aileron.



AILERON. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18.1915.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917. v

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A F. ZAHM.

AILERUN. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8, 1915f I Pm med Apr. 17, I917 4 SHEETS'SHEET 2.

5111 mm for Mat- W "A. F- ZAHM.

AlL ERONf APPL'ICATION FILED SEPT. 1a. 1915.

1,223,017. Patented ,17, 1917 sup nema.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

aInnnoN'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1'7, 191?.

origlnal'appl-ication filed March 2 8, 1914, Serial No. 827,435. Divided and this application flled se ptember To all ivhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. ZAHM, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Bu-flalo, in the county of Erie and. State of More'specifically, it is designed by this in vention to. provide a stabilizing plane or aileron'which'is normally to have neutral placement between the main planes of the be teinporarily changed by the admission of a ir thereinto, such ailerons being of the inttable variety; and an addedobject is to equip di'stortable aileron; with means i of resilient .cha1.'acter" permitting the automatic return of'theaileron to its normal position after the storting stra in is reinoverl:

' ".Thefabove-a dradditional objects which Willbe here-matter treated in detail, are accomplished by such means as are illus trated' in the aeeon'ipanylng drawmgs, ;de-

. scribedin' the following specification, and

then more particularlypointed out in the claims which are appended hereto to form a part of this d visional application.

. inultaneously,

17-17 (ari 18, 1915. Serial No. 51, !24.

With reference to the. drawings wherein there are illustrated the preferred embodiments of this in iention as it is reduced to practice, andtln'oughout the several views" equipped with the aileron shown in the last 5 New York hai e invented certain newand of which like characters of reference denote 60 useful In'iprovements in Ailerons, of which similar parts, I the following is a specification. Figure l is a front elevation, oi a heavier- This invention relates to flying machines, than-air flying machine equipped with the and more particularly relates to that class camber-varying, stabilizing aileron of this of such machines which are equipped with invention, 65 means enabling the pilot to vary the useful Fig. 2 a view of the same subject matwind force on sustaining surfaces of the ma ter but in side el av'ation, chine without changing the angles of inci- Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of one form deuce of the surfaces. of aileron support permitting a fore-and The present application is to be consid aft adjustment, K70 ered as, dividedout from the original. appli- Fig. 4 is a .t' 'a'ginentary elevational decation filed March 26-, 19 14 and accorded tail showing a flexible support for the aile- .Scrial No. 827,485, and may be considered ron, r as covering such part of the subjectmatter Fig.5 is anotl' er view of the same subject 20 of thementioned original application as rebut is taken'at rf ght angles to. Fig. 4, 76 lates to the variation 'ofjthe useful wind Fig.6, shows still another form. capable force by altering. the camber of an aileron. of accomplishing the objects of this inven- As a principal object accordingly, it is tion, contemplated by this invention to provide Fig. 7, illustrates an expansible aileron an aerofoil structure which will permit alfitted with sprir gsnormally' maintaining it 80 teration of the ca'mbe'r of an aileron, wing, in a neutral position,

' rudder or other aerofoil without changing Fig. 8 is a SQCWlOllfil view of the same subits angle ofv incidence in varying the susject matter on ti eline 8 -8 of 7.

taining power of the air 'for a flying ma Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of 30 chine of the heavier-than-airtype. an expansible' aileron fitted With a resilient 35. machine," but which may be distorted in three described figures, r v

"jitlier vertical direction for the purpose of Fig. 11-. is a longitudinal sectional viewassuming a temporary camber to efiect the taken through an inflatable aileron,

:desired'stabilizing result. Fig. 12 show aan'alternative. manner of A'.further object ofwthe invention is to positioning the inflatable aileron, i provide ailerons, .the'camber of which may Fig. 13 is'a'frontelevation of an aircraft fitted with the a ileron of this modification in the manner shovn in Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of i ailerons on the opposite Wing surfaces si= Fig. 16 is an enlarged showing fragm entarily the inflatable aileron of Fig. 14, and r sectional view Fig. 17 1s a ti ansverse sectional view taken through the ai r inlet control on the line An aeroplane of the type known as the flying boat is shown in l'as being e nipped with one form of t e stabilizing ai eron of the resent invention. The main planes of the ying machine are designated 10 and 11 respectively and are connected by posts 13 to form the aeroplane structure as bered 17, and comprise each a plane having a substantially rigid rear edge 18, and a. forward edge 19 loosely mounted by an uncovered portion of the aileron frame bar 20 within the elongated slot 21 of a bracket arm 22 which is formed at the juncture of frame arms 23, converging to an intersection from respective main planes 10 and 11. Frame pieces 24 are similarly carried By the main planes for the rigid support of the rear edge '18.

The foregoing applies to the aileron structure-illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, yet other methods of supporting-each aileron are contemplated and included in this present in: vention. Figs. 4 andfi illustrate for instance, a method of mounting these stabilizing plancs which employs the flexible elements 25 for the-purpose of loosely sustaining the rear edge of the aileron between the main planes, while the forward edge is to be secured to the forward frame posts connecting the main planes. In-th1s-const ruction.

the flexible elements 25 permit the same degrce of lateral play afforded in the first disclosed construction by the slotted bracket 22. The third form is shown in Fig. 6 and will be seen to differ from those forms already set forth by the employmentof a bolt 27 for slidable engagement with a bracket 28 carried by a rearward fram'e'post 13, the

.forward framepost serving to mount the 34 and 35. These skins are preferablyconforward edge of the aileron.

In each of these three forms, whether the ailerons 17 are supported clear of the plane connecting posts 13, whethcr they are .par-

tially supported by said posts, as in the second form, or wholly supported thereby as last disclosed, themethod of controlling 'such ailerons remains identically the same. Opposite flexible vcontrol leads 29 and 30 are I conncctcd to the jsubstantially central portion of each a'ilcrou l7. and are then led over the pulleys 31 until they can be brought forward for connection to the arms-of the,

shouldcr-fork 16. so that the movement, of the latter will cause the desired, flexing of the normally nrutral' aileron in order to cause thc desired; alteration of camber.

The opdat'ion of this type of control is as follows/Assuming the aeroplane to be flying in a horizontal plane, the ailerons 17 will lie flat in that plane, in a relatively neutral position with reference to the mam planes of the machine. When desired or'necessary to lift or depress either side, however, the ailerons are flexed in opposite directions by moving the shoulder-fork in the direction toward which it is desired to turn, or in the case of balancing, toward the high side of the machine. The effect thus produced is due entirely to a change of camber and the: direction of flexing of the two ailerons. Within limits, the greater the degree of flexing or the greater the arching of the surface, the greater the lifting or depressing effect, and this of course will be exercised upwardly on that side in which the aileron is flexed upwardly and downwardly on the other side. It should be understood that while I have shown these two ailerons connected and sinmltaneously operated, slich operation is by no means necessary but on the contrary they may .be operated singly and 1n only one direction if desired. In fact, as long as an angle of incidence is maintained constant and lSlflXed with reference to the mam planes for proper horizontal flight, I may use either lifting or depressing ailerons when operating only one at a time and depending upon the difference in other-lifting power for the unbalancing orcounterbalancingeffect; In this case, one-half of the cords shown in the figures would be omitted, and'the control of the shoulder-fork would be unidirectional on T each aileron.

Figs. 7 and 8 show'a modification of the distortable diaphragm aileron in whiclrthe same general principle iscmployed for the production of changes ilrliftingpower by flexing or altering the camber of an'aerofoil frame 33. Resilient means, in this case contractile coil springs designated 38, a're se- -cured to the forward'edge flfl of the aileron frame, and are flexibly connected by cords .39 with the ends of respective skins 34 and r and each slidably trained over the bars springs-38 of the 37. Stop-cords 40 are spaced along the outlines of each skin for flexible connection to the frame 33, in order tolimit the shape of the aileron to the desired stream-line form.

The form of an expansible aileron shown in Fig; 9, is similar to that described in the immediate foregoing, with the exception -thata strip of" elastic 41 connects the two separate skins 3i and 35 thus obviating any need for the ennloy nent of the separate rst described modification. In each case; control of the aileronis accomplished thupugh the medium of the'usual connections, 41 with each of theskins 3-1 and '35, as illustrated to advantage in Fig 10, forjtlie distortion from its normal positionof either of the skins of an aileron which will accomplish a desired alteration in the camber therefor without change in the angle of incidence. In the construction illustrated in Figs.

llto 13 inclusive, the resilient mounting of separable aileronskinslis replaced by means for inflating the stabilizing device for the purpose of altering'its camber. To this end the rectangular frame 42supports 011 one of its edges the bottom sheathing43, and

has secured to the top thereof the inflatable aileron skin 44 through the medium of stopeords 45 which limit the-expanded aileron ,shape in the obvious manner. The forward andrear ends of the frame 42 are transverse "mosphere.

corrugated; plates 46 which are so' designed as to permit the passage of air between the interior of the aileron and, the exterior at- 'Over the rearward plate 46 there is the hinged fiap valve 47 .which is y o erable from the pilot seat through a suita le connection 48.. Normally, 'during the flight of'the machine, and when it is not decontaining casing is provided on each of its upper and lower f; ices with registry ports 54 while the valve number has similar ports 55 'on each of its fates, although the ports of each face are staggered with respect to those of the other face. This construction permits the registration oi the valve ports 55 with the casing ports :34 to but one face of the casing at a time. Expansible aerofoil skins are secured on the upper and lower faces of the frame 50, being provided with an elastic gusset 57 at one edge of their attachment. Theslding valves 53 of ailerons carried at the extremities of the aeroplane supporting surfru es are connected through the medium of the bar 58. In this manner operating one of the ailerons to cause an expansion, or cam her alteration of the lower halfthereof caus es an opposite expansion of the other aileron, owing to the single acting flexible connections '59 with the operating shouldenforli or similar device fiflfthe fork leaning in H c direction of the depressing aileron and away from the elevating aileron.

In reading and construing the foregoing specification and the appended claims, it is to be understood, first, that many non-essential chan e's in matters of detail ma be i sired to inflate the aileronskin44, the valve a7 is permitted to. remain open so that/the air forced in the'for'ward corrugated plate by the progress of the machine is permitted to} escape through. the rearward 1 late 46 without causing inflation of the ai eron 44.

'The closing of the valve ,47, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 1,.will be attended by an 1 infiationof the aileron *4, since enterin air eanLfind no outlet; Various degrees'o in- Vtla tion can be secured by proper manipulafltion of this valve, control for the valves be- "in illustrated in Fig. 13 and adapted to the a iwe lv known Gurtiss shoulder-fork move 55 7 meat designated by the" numeral 49. Still another form of inflatable aerofoil' is shown inFi 14: where the framework of the aileron enoted by thenumera1 50 has setthereinto the-rigid bottom 51, similar to e he h g Fi "11 this; instance, however, valves atl fiorward'and rear edges of the frame fiqnhcladecasmgs 52 secured di ct y" to the. aileron .ffB mQ, and liming sliding thereinthehollow valved members 53. The

' described herein,

made, including both additions and subtractions of app; ratus and elements, Wltlb out departing trim-the spirit of my lnven ,tion; and second, that the use of this inven tion is not limitel to what I may term balancing control alone, but may be employed whereveritis desired to vary the wind force at an angle. to the direction of theair rush in flightwithout varying the angle of incidence. For example, the diverse forms of aileronsand control surfaces which I have disclosed herein may some or all of them be readily adapted -1 or use aselevators, verticalor horizontal-mid lers. The-entire invention, or any partof it, may also he applied to lighter-tl ian-air machines if desired, as" well as to the heavier-than-air type specifically plated by ine at d are intended to be covcred hereby-and included in so far as they fall fairly within the scope of myclaims.

For clarity, several expressions employed throughout the 'FOregOing specification and Such variationsand appllcatlons of-my inventlon are fully contemto be introduced also into the'claimswill be j defined as follow s:

surface and thc direction of translation through the air.

of the aileron shown 1n the spect to another, the position of that surface By camber, as" applied to an aileron or Wllld surface, 1; meant the ratio of the greatest depth 0 f arch of either a convex or concave surfaced o the length of the chord.

By placemert of one surface with rea D By angle'of Incidence, as used herein, 1s meant the angle between the 'chordvof the 'aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, and means to change the neutral placement of the aileron by mechanically controlled alteration of the camber. without altering the angle of incidencethereof.

3. In a flying machine;thecombination with the main planes of themachine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, and means *actingon the center of the aileron to causethereof.

7 the fore-and-aft edges thereof to approach in altering the neutral placementof the aileron without altcr1ng-;the angle of incidence 4. In a flying machine, the combination with the main planes of the machine, of 'an aileron normal liv neutral as to its'placement with respect to said main planes, and means flexibly connecting with the aileron to cause .rert-ical distortion thereof in either direction from its" neutral placement without altering the angle of incidence thereof.

In a flying machine, the combination withthe main planes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral. as to its placement with respect to said main planes, and means flexibly connecting with the aileron to alter the camber thereof in either Vertical direc* tion --from its neutral placement without altering the angle of incidence thereof (3. In a flying machine, the combination with the mainplanes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, and means flexibly coin iecting with the aileron to cause, by a pull in either vertical direction the." fore and aft edges of the aileron to approachin altering the neutral placement thereof 'w'ithout altering the angle of incidence thereof. I

7. In a-fl ymg machine. the'combinatio'n with the main planes of the 'machine, of an aileron normallyneutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, means substantially rigidlysupportin g'one edge of said aileron, means an ably sup 'iorting the other edge of said aileron, and means to distort sai'diaileron from its neutral placement without altering the angle of, incidence thereof.

8. In a flying machine, the combination I thereof.

with the main planes of the machine, ofan aileron normally neutral as to its'plaeement with respect to'said 'main planes, means substantially rigidly supporting one edge ,of

said aileron, means mdvably siipportingthe other edge of said aileron, and meansto alter the neutral placei'nent of the aileron by mechanically controlled alteration of the camber-without altering the angle of incidence 9.'In a flying'machine, the combination with the main planes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, means substantially rigidly supporting one edge of said aileron. means slidably supporting the other edge of said aileron, and 'meansacting on the center of the aileron'to cause the fore and aft edges thereof to approachin alterncutral placement of the aileron ing the altering the angle of incidence without thereof.-

- 10. In a flying machine, the combination with the main planes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, means substantially rigidly supporting one ed'ge' of said aileron, means slitlably supporting the other edge of said aileron, and means flexibly connecting with the aileron to cause vertical distortion thereof in either direction from its-neutral ph eement without altering.the angle of incidencethereof.

11 .'In a flyin with the main p anes', ofthemachine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said-maingplanes, means Sill)- stantially rigidly supporting one edge-of said aileron, meansslidablysupporting the other edge of said aileron, and means flex bly connecting with the aileron to alter the camniachine, the combination her thereof in either; yertical direction from its neutral placement without altering the and-aft edges of. the aileron to approach in altering the neutral placement thereof without altering the angle of 'incidence thereoft -13. In 'a flying machine, the combination with the main glanes of the machine,- of an aileron normal y neutral as to its placement withrespcct to' said main planes, means substantiallyv r gidly supporting one edge of said aileron, means extending between said main planes to flexibly support the other edge of said aileron for 'l'ore-and aft' movement, and means to distort said aileron from its neutral placement without altering the angle of incidence tl'iereof,

" 14. In a flying machine,- the combination with themuin planes of'the" machine, of. an aileron normally neul'ili'al as to its placement with respect to said main planes, means substantlally rigidly supporting one edge of said aileron, means exteiuling l:: etween said main planes to flexibly support the other edge of said aileron for fore-curtail; movement, and means to alter the neutral placement of the aileron by mechanically con trolled alteratiljin (if the camber without altering the angle of imL-idence thereof;

15. In a flying machine, the combination with the main planes of the machine, o'tan aileron mirrmally neutral to its placement with respect to said main planes, means substantially rigidly supporting one edge of said aileron, means extending between so id main planes to flexibly support the other, edge of said aileron for fore-e nd-a1tt movement, and means acting on preach to alter the neutral. Illlll ment of the aileron witlumt altering the angle of incidence thereof,

1 ltiIn a flying machine, the combination with the main planes of the machine, of an aileron normally, neutral to its'placement with respect to said main planes, means suhdtantmlly rigidly supporting one edgeof said aileron, means extending between said main planes to flexibly support the other edge of, said aileron for fore-anifl-aft morement, and means flexibly connectmg with the aileron to'cause vertical distortion thcpeoi in either direction from its neutral alacement without altering the angle of incidimce thereof.

17. In a fiyin machine, thecombinetion with the main p. ones of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral. as to itsplacement with respect to said main planes, mcanssuhstantially rigidly supporting one edge of said aileron, means extending between said main planes to flexibly support the other 'cdge of said aileron for fore-andafl move ment, and means flexibly connecting with the aileron to alter the camber thereof in either vertical direction from its neutral placement without 'altering the angle of in cidence thereof. I p

18. In a flying machine, the combination I with the main planes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement a with respect to said main planes, means substantielly rigidly supportingone edge of said aileron, means extending between said main planes to flexibly support the other edge of said aileron for fore-and-aft move ment,and meensfiex'ibly connecting with the aileron to cause, by a pull in either vertlcal direction, the fore-and-aft edges of the 05 ailerontoapproach in altering the neutral N is center of the aileron to cause the lime-uncl-eiit ed placement thereof without altering the angle of incidence ther :of. it

19. In a flying machine, the combination with the mam pl mes of the machine, of an" aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, frame pieces situated between the main planes of the machine supporting the opposite edges o,

of said aileron, one of said frame pieces being formed wltl l means movably accommodating the edge supported thereby, and

means to distortsaid aileron from its neu-w tral placement without altering the angle of incidence thereof ill). In a flying machine, the combination with the main pl: mes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, frame pieces situated be tween the main planesof the machine supporting the opposite ed of said aileron,o:1e of-said frame pieces ing formed With; means movably accommodating the edge supported thereby, and means to alter th 5 neutral placement of the aileron by meclmnically controlled alteration of the courier, ,Without altering the angle of incidenoi thereof.

21. In a flying machine, the combination with the main p 1 with respect to said main planes, frame pieces situated between the main planes of the machine sup orting the opposite edges of said aileromouc of said frame pieces-be.- ing formed, with means slidably accommo dating the edge supported thereby, and means'acting on the center of the aileron to cause the fore-an laft edges thereof to appreach in altering; the neutral placement of.

theaileron withol it altering the angle of incidence thereof. I i

In a dying machine, the combination with the main pli' nes of the machine, of an aileron normally iicutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, frame pieces situated between the main planes of the.v machine suprortingfthe opposite edges of said aileron, or c of said frame pieces being formed with means slidably' accommodating the edge supported thereby, andmeans flexibly co enacting with the aileron to cause vertical istortion-thereof in either direction from its neutral placement without altering the angle of incidence thereof.

23. In a flyin unachine, the combination with the main p mes of the machine, often I aileron normally :leutral asto its placement with respect to said main: planes, frame pieces situated between the main planes of ,the machine sup; orting' the opposite edges of said aileron, ore of said frame pleces being formed withmeans slidably accommm dating the edge supported thereby, and

means flexibly connecting with the aileron to alter the cambir thereof either vertimes of the machine, of an, aileron normally ieutral as to its placement pieces situated between the main the machine supporting the opposite edfis' cal direction from its neutral placement without altering the angle of incidence thereof.

24. In a flyin machine, the combination with the main p anes of the machine, of an aileron normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes, frame lanes of of said aileron, one of said frame pieces ing formed with means slidably accommodating the edge supported thereby, and means flexibly connecting with the aileron to cause, by a pull in either vertical direction, the fore-and-aft edges of the aileron to approach in altering the neutral placement thereof Without altering the angle of incidence thereof.

25. In a flying machine, an aerofoil, and

a means to flex the aerofoil without vertically moving either the leading or the trailing edge thereof.

26. In a flying machine, an aerofoil, a means to distort the aerofoil, and a means to maintain the leading edge. and the trailing edge of the aerofoil against vertical displacement during distortion that the angle of incidence thereof may remain unaltered. I

27. ;In a flying machine, the combination with the main planes, of an aileron normally I leading or the trailing e mam-r neutral as to its placement with respect to said main planes,

and a means to flex the aileron without verticallg moving either the 8 spect to the supportinglplanes.

28. In a flying mac me, the combination with the supporting lane of the machine, of an aileron norma ly neutral as to its thereof with reas placement with respect to said supporting 40 plane, and a means to flex the aileron without vertically moving either the leading or the trailing edge thereof with respect to. said supporting plane.

29. In a flying machine, with the supporting plane of the machine, of an aileron'normally neutral as to its placement with respect to said supporting lane, and means to distort the aileron from the combination its neutral placement without altering the angle between the chord of the aileron and. its direction of translation through the air.

30. In a flying machine, the combination with the supporting plane of the machine, of an aileron norma ly neutral as to its placement with respect to said supporting plane, and means to vary the camber of the aileron without-altering the angle betweenthe chord thereof and the direction ofits translation through the air.

. In testimony w ereof I aflix my si ature.

ALBERT F. z HM. 

